Fluid dispenser device of the multi-dose type

ABSTRACT

A fluid dispenser device a body ( 1 ), a fluid reservoir ( 3 ), a dispensing member, such as a pump or a metering valve having a piston or a valve member that is mounted to move axially, which dispensing member is fitted to the reservoir ( 3 ), and an actuating element ( 5 ) mounted to move between a rest position and an actuating position, for actuating the dispensing member and thus for selectively dispensing the fluid contained in the reservoir ( 3 ), fluid dispenser device being characterized in that the direction in which actuating element ( 5 ) moves is different from, and in particular perpendicular to, the axial direction in which the piston or the valve member of the dispensing member moves, the actuating element ( 5 ) having an end portion provided with the cam surface ( 6 ) which co-operates with the reservoir ( 3 ) or a fixing ring ( 8 ) adapted to fix the dispensing member to the reservoir ( 3 ) so that the actuating member ( 5 ) being moved substantially radially into its actuating position causes the reservoir ( 3 ) to be moved axially relative to the piston or to the valve member of the dispensing member so as to dispense a dose of fluid.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a divisional of application Ser. No. 10/362,477, filed Feb. 24,2003 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,860,411, which is a National Stage Applicationfiled under §371 of PCT Application No. PCT/FR01/02684, filed Aug. 28,2001; the above noted prior applications are all hereby incorporated byreference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a fluid dispenser device, and moreparticularly to a fluid spray device of the multi-dose type having alateral actuating system.

BACKGROUND

In the field of multi-dose spray devices, several systems for laterallyactuating the pump of the device have been developed recently.

Such a system is generally constituted by a body containing the entirespray device and provided with a pivotally mounted lever system actingagainst the end-wall of the fluid reservoir and pushing it axially,during actuation, towards the dispensing head so as reproduce themovement of the hand during standard axial actuation.

Such systems suffer from numerous problems. In particular, they do notmake it possible for a standard assembly method to be implemented by themanufacturer of the fluid to be dispensed, which is generally apharmaceutical, because it is then not possible merely to insert theunit formed by the reservoir and by the pump into the dispensing head,as is usual in devices that are actuated by hand. In addition, suchsystems make lateral actuation essential, even though the user might,for various reasons, such as dexterity problems, a habit difficult tochange, etc. sometimes prefer to actuate the device in the conventionalmanner, i.e. by pressing by hand on the end-wall of the reservoir. Inaddition, all of the existing lateral actuating systems do not solve theproblem which is typical with most spray pumps and which relates to thedose-metering accuracy and the spray quality being dependent on thespeed and the force with which the user actuates the device. Thus,partial actuation can result in a partial dose being dispensed or in thespray quality being degraded.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a fluid dispenserdevice that does not reproduce the above-mentioned drawbacks.

In particular, an object of the present invention is to provide a fluiddispenser device that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture and toassemble.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a fluid dispenserdevice that guarantees excellent spray quality and delivery of a fulldose of fluid each time it is actuated, independently of the resistanceof the pump and/or of the quantity of fluid and/or of the actuatingforce exerted by the user on the actuating element.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fluid dispenser devicethat can be actuated by a lateral actuating system or by a standardactuating system, i.e. by pushing axially on the end-wall of thereservoir towards the dispensing orifice.

Another object of the present invention is also to provide alaterally-actuated fluid dispenser device in which assembly of thedevice by the fluid manufacturer is not modified by the presence of thelateral actuating system, i.e., after the reservoir has been filled, theunit formed by the reservoir and by the dispensing member is merelyfixed inside the remainder of the device.

To these ends, the present invention provides a fluid dispenser devicecomprising a body, a fluid reservoir, a dispensing member, such as apump or a metering valve having a piston or a valve member that ismounted to move axially, which dispensing member is fitted to thereservoir, and an actuating element mounted to move between a restposition and an actuating position, for actuating the dispensing memberand thus for selectively dispensing the fluid contained in thereservoir, said fluid dispenser device being characterized in that thedirection in which said actuating element moves is different from, andin particular perpendicular to, the axial direction in which the pistonor the valve member of the dispensing member moves, the actuatingelement having an end portion provided with a cam surface whichco-operates with the reservoir or a fixing ring adapted to fix thedispensing member to the reservoir so that the actuating element beingmoved substantially radially into its actuating position causes thereservoir to be moved axially relative to the piston or to the valvemember of the dispensing member so as to dispense a dose of fluid.

Advantageously, said cam surface comprises a sloping surfaceco-operating with at least one projection integral with the reservoir orwith the fixing ring.

Advantageously, the actuating element is provided with return means forreturning it from its actuating position to its rest position after eachoccasion on which the device is actuated.

Advantageously, the reservoir and said dispensing member form a firstunit, said body and said actuating member form a first unit, said bodyand said actuating element forming a second unit, said first unit beingfixed, in particular by snap-fastening, into said second unit.

Advantageously, after fixing of said first unit in said second unit, theend-wall of the reservoir remains accessible for being actuated by handby pushing axially on said end-wall of the reservoir.

In a first variant embodiment of the invention, said dispensing memberis a pump including a piston.

In a second variant embodiment of the invention, said dispensing memberis a metering valve including a valve member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention willappear more clearly on reading the following detailed description of twoembodiments of the invention, given with reference to the accompanyingdrawings which are given by way of non-limiting example, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a partially-cutaway diagrammatic section view of a firstembodiment of a fluid dispenser device of the present invention, in therest position;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to the FIG. 1 view, in the actuating position;

FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway section view of a second embodiment of theinvention, in the rest position;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to the FIG. 3 view, in the actuating position;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic horizontal section view, seen looking fromabove, of the device shown in FIG. 3, in the rest position; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to the FIG. 5 view, in the actuating position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the drawings, the device of the invention includes areservoir 3 to which a dispensing member (not shown) such as a meteringvalve or a pump is fixed. The examples shown in the drawings relate to adevice having a pump which operates with a piston moving inside ametering chamber to deliver a metered quantity or “dose” of fluid, as iswell known, but the invention is also applicable to inhalers of themetered dose inhaler (MDI) type having a metering valve and generallyused upside down. In which case, it is the valve member of the valvethat moves relative to the reservoir to deliver the dose.

The dispensing member, referred to below by the term “pump”, is fittedto the reservoir 3 preferably by means of a fixing ring 8. The unitformed by the reservoir and the pump is inserted into a body 1 whichincorporates a nasal applicator 2 provided with a dispensing orifice.Although it is shown in the examples in the form of a nasal-typedispenser, the invention is also applicable to other types of dispenserdevices, e.g. inhalers of the oral type or the like.

In the invention, the device includes an actuating element 5 which isadapted to actuate the pump to deliver a dose of fluid. The actuatingelement 5 is disposed on one side, and it is mounted to move in adirection that is different from and in particularly substantiallyperpendicular to the axial direction in which the piston moves in thepump. Thus, the actuating element 5 has an end portion provided with acam surface 6 which co-operates with one or more projections 7 providedon the reservoir 3 or on the fixing ring 8. In the examples shown, theradial projections 7 are implemented in the form of pairs which areintegral with the fixing ring 8. The cam surface of the actuatingelement 5 is advantageously made in the form of a slope 6 whichco-operates with said projections 7 to transform a substantially radialmovement of the actuating element 5 into an axial movement of the pistonof the pump so as to dispense a dose of fluid. When the actuatingelement 5 ceases to be pressed, said actuating element is returned toits rest position by the return spring of the piston.

The device may include force-regulating means which are adapted topredetermine the force exerted by the actuating element 5 on saidprojections 7, independently of the resistance of the pump and/or of thequantity of liquid in the reservoir and/or of the actuating forceexerted by the user on the actuating element 5.

In a first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the force-regulating meanscomprise resilient means such as a spring 15 which co-operates with theactuating element 5 to urge it towards its actuating position when thespring is compressed. The force-regulating means further include triggermeans 16 that are preferably implemented in the form of one or more sidebuttons. The buttons 16 retain the actuating element in the restposition (shown in FIG. 5) against the force exerted by the spring 15,until the user presses on the buttons 16 to release the locking of theactuating element 5, thereby enabling it to move into its actuatingposition under the effect of the resilient force of the spring 15, andthus to move the reservoir 3 relative to the piston of the pump todeliver a dose. It is thus the characteristics of the spring 15 thatdetermine the force exerted by the actuating element on the pump, andtherefore the actuating force on the pump is independent of the forceexerted by the user on the actuating element 5. Advantageously, thespring 15 co-operates with a loading element 18 which is moved by handto compress said spring 15. As shown in the drawings, the loadingelement 18 may be implemented in the form of a cover which, in the restposition, closes off the dispensing orifice of the device, and which ismounted on the body 1 to pivot about a pivot pin 17, said cover 18further being provided with a transverse control peg 19 whichco-operates with a lever 20. When the cover 18 is opened, as shown inFIG. 2, the peg 19 acts against the lever 20 which compresses the spring15 against an internal wall 21 formed inside the actuating element 5. Inthis position, the actuating element 5 is held in its rest position bythe pair of buttons 16. Preferably, the buttons 16 are formed onflexible arms (not shown) which are secured to or integral with theactuating element 5, and which, when the actuating element 5 is in therest position, are urged resiliently into holes 22 in the body 1. Whenthe user presses laterally on the buttons 16, which are formed insuitable manner, they are disengaged from the retaining holes 22,thereby releasing the actuating element 5 which, under drive from thespring 15, slides inside the sleeve 4 of the body 1 to actuate the pump.It should be noted that, while the actuating element is being displaced,the pivot pin 17 via which the cover 18 pivots on the body 1 does notprevent the actuating element 5 from moving because said cover isprovided with two suitable slots (not shown) in its sides so as toprevent any interference with the pegs forming the pivot pin 17.

Optionally, the actuating element may further be provided with resilientreturn means that return the actuating element to its rest positionafter each occasion on which the device is actuated. Generally, however,the force of the return spring of the piston of the pump suffices toreturn the actuating element 5 to its rest position, by means of theprojections 7 pushing on the sloping surface 6. Preferably, while theactuating element 5 is returning to its rest position 16, the buttons 16return automatically into the holes 22 in the body, and the device isready to be used again.

If desired, said return means for returning the actuating element 5 toits rest position can be actuated only when the cover 18 is returned toits closure position in which it closes off the dispensing orifice asshown in FIG. 1. In which case, it is guaranteed that the user mustclose the cover, and thus protect the dispensing orifice of the device,after each occasion on which it is used.

In FIGS. 3 to 6, a second embodiment is shown that differs from theembodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in that the device does not have thepre-compressible resilient means for exerting a force on the actuatingelement 5 during actuation of the device. In the example shown in FIGS.3 to 6, the force exerted by the user on the lateral actuating element 5is directly transformed into a force for axially moving the piston ofthe pump by the slope 6 forming the cam surface and co-operating withthe peg 7 integral with the fixing ring 8. In this embodiment, theforce-regulating means may be implemented in the form of a varyinggradient of said sloping surface 6. During the actuating stroke, pumpsgenerally change their resistance, and therefore the force required foractuation. Such increases in resistance during the stroke take placesometimes constantly, and sometimes very quickly. An appropriatevariation in the inclination of the cam surface 6 can fully compensatefor such increases in resistance, thereby enabling actuation be safe,with resulting accurate metering and excellent spraying, while exertinga constant force on the actuating element 5.

The device of the invention thus offers the following advantages:

-   -   actuation is lateral, and is therefore often easier and more        comfortable for the user;    -   the lateral actuating system unit is assembled onto the body 1,        in the vicinity of the nasal applicator 2 of the device so that        the end-wall of the reservoir 3 may be freely accessible; this        makes it possible for standard conventional actuation to be        performed by axially pressing on the bottom of the reservoir if        necessary; this can be decisive in the event of an attack, e.g.        an asthma attack, when the user, in a panic, attempts to actuate        the device in the manner to which the user has been accustomed        for many years, i.e. by pushing on the end-wall of the        reservoir;    -   assembly by the manufacturer of the fluid to be dispensed is not        modified by the presence of a lateral actuating system, it being        possible for the unit formed by the reservoir and by the pump to        be mounted simply in the body, as in existing devices; the        lateral actuation in no way modifies assembly of the device,        which is a considerable advantage; and    -   since the lateral actuating system is independent of the size of        the reservoir, the present invention makes it possible to adapt        reservoirs of various dimensions to fit inside the same body 1        without modifying the production line on which the device is        manufactured.

Although shown in relation to a pump having a piston and operating inthe upright position in the drawings, the invention, as specified above,is also applicable to metering valves for inhalers of the MDI type. Inaddition, the invention is not limited to the embodiments shown in thefigures, and modifications may be considered within the ambit of theinvention as defined by the accompanying claims.

1. A fluid dispenser device comprising a body (1), a fluid reservoir(3), a dispensing member having a piston or a valve member that ismounted to move axially, which dispensing member is fitted to thereservoir (3), and an actuating element (5) mounted to move between arest position and an actuating position, for actuating the dispensingmember and thus for selectively dispensing the fluid contained in thereservoir (3), said fluid dispenser device being characterized in thatthe direction in which said actuating element (5) moves is differentfrom the axial direction in which the piston or the valve member of thedispensing member moves, the actuating element (5) having an end portionprovided with a cam surface (6) which abuts an abutting member which ismovable and rides on the cam surface, the abutting member being coupledto the reservoir (3) or a fixing ring (8) adapted to fix the dispensingmember to the reservoir (3), so that the actuating element (5) beingmoved substantially radially into its actuating position causes theabutting member to move along the cam surface and the reservoir (3) tobe moved axially relative to the piston or to the valve member of thedispensing member so as to dispense a dose of fluid.
 2. A deviceaccording to claim 1, in which said cam surface comprises a slopingsurface (6) and the abutting member comprises at least one projection(7) integral with the reservoir (3) or with the fixing ring (8).
 3. Adevice according to claim 1, in which said actuating element (5) isprovided with return means for returning it from its actuating positionto its rest position after each occasion on which the device isactuated.
 4. A device according to claim 3, in which the reservoir (3)and said dispensing member form a first unit, said body (1) and saidactuating element (5) forming a second unit, said first unit being fixedinto said second unit.
 5. A device according to claim 4, in which, afterfixing of said first unit in said second unit, the end-wall (3 a) of thereservoir (3) remains accessible for being actuated by hand by pushingaxially on said end-wall of the reservoir.
 6. A device according toclaim 4, wherein the first unit is fixed into the second unit bysnap-fastening.
 7. A device according to claim 1, in which saiddispensing member is a pump including a piston.
 8. A device according toclaim 1, in which said dispensing member is a metering valve including avalve member.
 9. A device according to claim 1, wherein the dispensingmember is at least one of a pump or a metering valve.
 10. A deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the actuating element moves perpendicularto the axial direction in which the piston or the valve member of thedispensing member moves.
 11. A fluid dispenser comprising: a body; afluid reservoir; a dispensing member fitted to the reservoir and movablein an axial direction; and an actuating element which is moved between arest position and an actuating position to actuate the dispensingmember; wherein, the direction in which the actuating element moves isdifferent from the axial direction in which the dispensing member moves;wherein the actuating element comprises a cam surface which abuts anabutting member and the abutting member moves in response to actuationof the actuating element.
 12. The fluid dispenser of claim 11, whereinthe abutting member is coupled to at least one of the fluid reservoirand a fixing ring which fixes the dispensing member to the reservoir.13. The fluid dispenser of claim 12, wherein the abutting member ismovable along the cam surface, so that when the actuating element isactuated, the abutting member moves along the cam surface and thereservoir is moved axially relative to the dispensing member so as todispense a dose of fluid.
 14. The fluid dispenser of claim 13, whereinthe cam surface is a sloped surface.
 15. The fluid dispenser of claim 9,wherein the cam surface has a varying gradient.
 16. The fluid dispenserof claim 13, wherein the actuating element moves perpendicular to theaxial direction in which the dispensing member moves.
 17. The fluiddispenser of claim 13, wherein the dispensing member comprises a pistonor a valve member and the abutting member comprises a projection. 18.The fluid dispenser of claim 13, wherein pressing a surface of thereservoir also actuates the fluid dispenser to dispense a dose of fluid.19. The fluid dispenser of claim 11, wherein the abutting member movesrelative to the body.
 20. The fluid dispenser of claim 11, wherein theabutting member remains axially fixed relative to the reservoir duringactuation of the actuating element.